Sunday, August 29, 2010

Movies that made me the way I am - part 3

And here we go again with some movies that marked my life.

31. Cast Away (2000) - It takes an outstanding performance for an actor to keep on his shoulders more than half of a movie. Tom Hanks makes you feel small. And unprepared if you were to land on an island, where you are totally alone.

32. 12 Monkeys (1995) - Nobody can depict madness better than Terry Gilliam. How can one be impressed anymore by movies like Avatar or Inception after you see such a jewel? Fragile to the point of crashing inside itself, this masterpiece also gives you the best 15-20 minutes of Brad Pitt's career. Unforgettable.

33. Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf (1966) - First time when I experienced emotional draining. It sucked me out, until I remained numb. One can write tomes about it. Beautiful and shaking whatever certitudes you might have regarding the relationship between a man and a woman.

34. Death in Venice (1971) - I didn't like the book, but I loved the movie. Haunting images in a cinematic roll that will leave you breathless. Add Mahler music and you will understand the painful sadness of one of its famous lines: "In all the world, there is no impurity so impure as old age."

35. Tootsie (1982) - Definitely the most awesome transvestite in the history of cinema. Every time I watch it, I laugh in tears. Every time. Dustin Hoffman is hysterically good. :)

36. Queen Margot (1994) - The movie that manages to actually push the mind accepting the incest as a reality. Incredibly intense, compelling, it slaughters all your senses.

37. Training Day (2001) - Denzel my man, you are one heck of a God in this one. Slap, punch, slap, punch... until you fall on the floor. Now stand up bitch and take it one more time. That's the feeling.

38. The Godfather (1972) - There are no words for this one. No other Mafia guy was so much loved and respected. Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone is a part of our heritage. It's in our blood. For good. Live with it.

39. Die Hard series - Heh... I mean really...how can you not adore Bruce Willis when hearing him say "C'mon baby, come ta' papa, I'll kiss ya' fuckin' dalmatian." or "Who's driving this car, Stevie Wonder?" Muahahahaha... I can watch him anytime saving whatever he saves. :D

40. Sense and Sensibility (1995) - I have a soft spot for this movie. Serene, delicate, funny and perfect played. Like a Monet painting that comes to life. I guess I need to see it again. :)

To be continued...

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Movies that made me the way I am - part 2

And let's continue with the long list of movies that influenced me in a way or another. For more information you can read if you like my previous post on this subject. :)

21. Con-Air (1997) - For the awesome John Malkovic who plays the unique Cyrus the Virus. The gripping action doubled by a brilliant chosen soundtrack will always freeze me on the couch, making me clap when the "bunny doesn't get it". :P Now singing... He's got the whole world...in His hand...:)

22. Leon: The Professional (1994) - a Luc Besson masterpiece in which I discovered a special kind of tenderness. Jean Reno, Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman form a golden trio very difficult to be ever equaled.

23. Heat (1995) - in other words: when 2 monsters meet history is made. Al Pacino and Robert de Niro in a breathtaking crime saga. There should have been invented an Oscar award just for the coffee shop scene.

24. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) - when the special effects were the gestures and the eyes of the actors. When Milos Forman had the guts to dig deep in the fascinating world of the institutionalized crazy people. When Jack Nicholson was a God.

25. Annie Hall (1977) - One of the movies which forces me every time to thank God I have an awesome sense of humor. Otherwise I would have missed the perfect beauty of the wittiest movie that has ever been shot.

26. Rush Hour (1998) - The most comic on-screen duo cannot but win your heart. Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker together are the best anti-depressives.

27. L'avventura (1960) - Antonioni is not everybody's piece of cup. But once you get used to his style, a world of wonders unfolds. Alienation, shallowness and love blew my mind.

28. The Last Boy Scout (1991) - I fell in love with Bruce Willis after this line: "Nobody likes you. Everybody hates you. You're gonna lose. Smile, you fuck."

29. The Fisher King (1991) - Hope and misery in a mix that broke my heart. One of the most underrated movies of all times. My first encounter with the Holy Grail seen as unconditional love. An amazing Jeff Bridges and an astounding Robin Williams.

30. Moonstruck (1987) - This is how a romantic comedy should look like. Cher and Nicholas Cage? So unexpectedly good together. And yes "the moon brings the woman to the man..." :)

To be continued...